CHINESE CONSTRUCTION CAMPS AND SUPPORT FACILITIES NORTHERN LAOS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78B04560A006900010011-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 23, 2000
• Sequence Number: 11
• Publication Date: April 1, 1970
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2000/05/10: CIA-RDP78B045040c69001 1OO114
SECRET
NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC
INTERPRETATION CENTER
PHOTOGRAPHIC
INTERPRETATION
REPORT
CHINESE CONSTRUCTION CAMPS
AND SUPPORT FACILITIES
NORTHERN LAOS
SECRET
NPIC/R-19/70
APRIL 1970
GROUP I, EXCLUDED FROM
AUTOMATIC DOWNGRADING
APO S I"For Release 2000/05/10 : CIA-RDP78BO456OA00690001 0011 -1
 Approved For Release 2000/05/10 : CIA-RDP78BO456OA00690001 0011 -1
This document contains information affecting
the national defense of the United States,
within the meaning of Title 18, sections
793 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as amended.
Its transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person is
prohibited by law.
Approved For Release 2000/05/10 : CIA-RDP78BO456OA00690001 0011 -1
 Approved For Release 2000/05/10 : CIA-SgCM04560A006900010011-1
NO FOREIGN DISSEM
CHINESE CONSTRUCTION CAMPS
AND SUPPORT FACILITIES
NORTHERN LAOS
NPIC/R-1970
Approved For Release 2000/05/10: ClA -SB04560A006900010011-1
NO FOREIGN DISSEM
 SECRET
NO FOREIGN DISSEM
SLYY,CONSTRUCTED RO f .
NSTRUCTION
CO STRUCTION, UNSERVICE`ABk E
I1ON CAMP'WITH
OP SUPPORT BI NDINGS
E?SI CCE MARCH 1969
O.'RTH
AT N A M
BANGKOK
a~~ma~a
i.~ CAMBODIA
PHNOM
PENH ? I^,
)~ t2
SECRET
NO FOREIGN DISSEM
A~Proved For Release 2000/05/10: CIA-RDP78B04560A006900010011-1
VIETN4,
?SAIGON
 Approved For Release 2000/05/10 : CIA6464560A006900010011-1
NO FOREIGN DISSEM
NPIC/R-1970
Chinese road construction is continuing in northern Laos along Routes 4,
45, and 46. More than 1,350 buildings in 81 construction camps, numerous air
defense sites, and heavy construction equipment are observed during -
This report includes a basic description of the construction support
facilities, a map depicting the location and composition of each facility, and
selected photographs.
More than 80 construction camps supporting the current Chinese road
construction effort in Northern Laos have been identified. This construction,
a further extension of the Ban Botene-Muong Sai-Muong La road network which
was completed last year, extends for 73 nautical miles (nm) with construction
continuing at each end. The large number of support facilities, the use of
mechanized construction equipment, and the defense of the road with antiair-
craft artillery (AAA) and automatic weapons (AW) positions are similar to the
construction effort previously observed along Routes 4 and 412 between Ban
Botene and Muong Sai.1
Eighty-one construction camps containing more than 1,350 buildings are
currently supporting the massive Chinese road construction effort in northern
Laos (Figure 1). These camps (Figure 2) vary greatly in size and are dispersed
along those portions of Route 4, 45 and 46 which comprise the 73-nm northeast-
southwest road now under construction. This road is a further extension of the
Ban Botene-Muong Sai-Muong La road completed last year and will connect Route
19 with the Mekong River if continued in both directions.
The northernmost segment of road construction extends approximately 13 nm
north-northeast from Muong La. The 15 active construction camps along this
segment contain 256 buildings. AAA and AW positions are concentrated in the
vicinity of Muong La where a major bridge is under construction over the Nam
Phak (Figure 3).
25X1 D
Although the road between Muong Sai and Muong La was complete in the
number of buildings at the facilities along this segment has increased from
approximately 50 to over 300 since 2 These facilities do not appear
to be permanent and are probably support for the construction to the northeast
and southwest. 25X1D
The 48-nm road segment between Muong Sai and Muong Houn is in early-to
mid-stage of construction. The 46 active construction camps along this segment
contain 826 buildings. Construction equipment identified in this area includes
bulldozers, road graders, and truck-mounted cranes (Figure 4). Limited air
defense is provided for the entire segment with AAA sites concentrated near
Muong Sai.
Approved For Release 2000/05/10: C.'H 78BO456OA006900010011-1
NO FOREIGN DISSEM
 Approved For Release 2000/05/10 : C "RE. 78B04560A006900010011-1 :PIC/R-19/70
NO FOREIGN DISSEM
FIGURE 2. CONSTRUCTION CAMP, ROUTE 46, NORTHERN LAOS
0
Approved For Release 2000/05/10 : CIA-RDP78B04560A006900010011-1
SECRET
NO FOREIGN DISSEM
 Approved For Release 2000/05/10: CIA. TB04560A006900010011-1
NO FOREIGN DISSEM
NPIC/R-1970
FIGURE 3. BRIDGE UNDER CONSTRUCTION OVER THE NAM PHAK NEAR MUONG LA,
NORTHERN LAOS
MECHANIZED CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT ALONG ROUTE 1+6, NORTHERN LAOS
-3-
Approved For Release 2000/05/10 : ClJ !J8B04560A006900010011-1
NO FOREIGN DISSEM
 Approved For Release 2000/05/10: &V-K6T78B04560A006900010011-1 "" /R -19/70
NO FOREIGN DISSEM
MAPS AND CHARTS
AMS MAP. Series 1501, Sheets NF 47-12 & 16; NF 48-9 & 13, scale 1:250,000
DOCUMENTS
1. NPIC. R-99/69, Increased Chinese Support Facilities, Routes 412 and 4 25X1C
Northern Laos, Nov 9 CONFIDENTIAL No Foreign Dissem
2. NPIC. R-32/69, Chinese Road Construction Camps in Northern Laos, Apr 69
(SECRET/No Foreign Dissem
NPIC Project 170002NI
Approved For Release 2000/05/10: Cl i tI8B04560A006900010011-1
NO FAREIGN DISSEM
 Approved For Release 2000/05/10 : CIS IB04560A006900010011-1
Approved For Release 2000/05/10 78B04560A006900010011-1
NO FOREIGN DISSEM